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Renée Fleming - Opera diva with an indie soul

Even if you're not an opera aficionado and have never been to the Met, there is still a chance you've heard of Renée Fleming. Even if you actually haven't heard OF her, you have indeed heard her sing (unless you somehow haven't seen Lord of the Rings). She is the beautiful floating voice that comprises Arwen's Theme. In that soundtrack she sings in a made-up Elfin language, but onstage at the Metropolitan Opera (and around the world), she regularly dazzles audiences signing in German, French, Italian or Russian.

On her newest album however, she sticks to English. That is, her new indie rock album. Yes, the opera world's biggest soprano superstar is an indie girl at heart.

Her album is called Dark Hope and features covers of songs by well-known (and some not so well-known) rock artists. In the reviews I've read, it seems that people don't know how to take her foray into the genre. The classical music snobs lend it their ear because of the clout she carries in their world, and the indie crowd is intrigued because tunes by Muse and Arcade Fire are on the track list.

I'm excited about this album because so few musicians successfully cross over between genres, or are even willing to conceive of such an idea. I know plenty of classical artists that would never in a million years consider doing something like this, and for that I support Renée's choice entirely.